SCHERERVILLE | Eddie Hoffman is not a regular in the stock car competition at Illiana Motor Speedway, but when he is in the starting lineup he has to be considered a favorite.
Saturday night at the half-mile paved oval, Hoffman showed why he is one of the Midwest's best drivers as he made off with top honors in the 30-lap feature race for Schepel Buick/GMC super late model stock car competitors. The veteran driver from Wheaton, Ill., piloted his Ford Fusion to his fourth feature win of the season at the local raceway.
Hoffman, the evening's fastest qualifier, took the lead from Kevin Moenck on lap 17 and raced to the checkered flag, finishing 1.279 seconds ahead of second- place Anthony Danta. Moenck, who used the outside groove to lead 13 of the opening 16 laps, battling with John Nutley most of the way, came home third, followed by Kouts' Jeff Cannon, Joe O'Connor of St. John and Nutley.
"I had a little bit of a hard time getting by him (Moenck)," Hoffman said. "He was good on the high line. Obviously, he knew he was better on the high line and he let everyone try and pass him on the inside. You're a little vulnerable if you are up there. Guys can get into your door or left rear."
For the eighth time this year, Cannon won the Schepel Performance (limited) late model main event. Cannon drove his Impala SS to the victory in the 25-lap division headliner ahead of Dyer's Phil Splant, Nutley, Marc Hankosky and early race leader Doug Hayes.
A special 12-lap vintage stock car feature race was held on the half-mile with Gary Mitidiero of Homer Glen, Ill., scoring the victory. Mitidiero and his 1971 Camaro bested Darrel Bassuener of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., in a 1957 Chevy and Bob Heine of New Prague, Minn., who drove a 1969 Chevelle.
Racing on Illiana's quarter-mile paved oval saw Craig Amptmeyer of Lansing win the 25-lap Turbo Stox main event. It was the fourth win of the season for Amptmeyer and his Monte Carlo. Bill Serviss, Eddie Wolf and Billy Jarrells of Griffith trailed Amptmeyer at the finish.
Chris King of Kouts posted his fifth consecutive win in Legends division feature race competition. King, the class 2008 champion, defeated Michael Martin, Jr. of Crown Point, Dyer's Matt O'Leary and Allen Gauthier. Hammond's Helen Nester won her fifth Pure Street Stock feature over Matt Arvia and Tim Cronin. Paul Fusko of Portage captured the 10-lap Bandoleros division main event.
